SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Joe Bisenius was masterful, equaling a franchise record with 14 strikeouts and zero walks as the Saltdogs (50-44) blanked the Sioux Falls Canaries (31-63) 5-0 at The Birdcage Tuesday night.
Bisenius (6-2) pitched eight brilliant frames, allowing just five hits, complementing his 93 mph fastball with a biting curve and devastating change-up to match Clay Eason’s single-game strikeout record from 2001.
Chad Mozingo laced a two-out, solo shot to right, his sixth, to open the game’s scoring in the third.
Lincoln added two more in the fifth and another pair in the ninth, with just one earned on five Canaries’ errors.
Kyle Ruwe (5-8) went the distance, allowing five runs but just two earned to suffer the loss.
The RailCats fell at Sioux City 8-6, so the Saltdogs are now tied for the Central division lead (and hold the tiebreaker) with six games to play.
The series continues Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Zachary Varce (5-9, 4.22) taking the hill against LHP Matt Wickswat (3-8, 6.20). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.